Community Lawyer

• Part-time (4 days per week but this is subject to negotiation) for 3.5 years (with possibility of extension depending on funding)
• Work in an exciting expansion of our health-justice partnership
• Generous salary packaging
• SCHADS Level 5

West Heidelberg Community Legal at Banyule Community Health is seeking to employ a suitably qualified Community Lawyer to work in an exciting expansion of our integrated health-justice partnership. The Community Lawyer will deliver legal assistance including advice and continuing case work and work closely with Banyule Community Health’s multi-disciplinary Wellbeing and Support team to improve access to justice for people experiencing a mental health conditions.

The Community Lawyer will also raise awareness and build knowledge about the legal needs through community legal education and training for community and health workers as well as by participating in relevant law reform, policy and community development activities.

Further, in consultation with the Principal Lawyer and the Legal Service team, the incumbent will contribute to the continuous planning and development of the Legal Service to ensure it is always responsive to changing community needs.

The key responsibilities for this position include:

• Provide high quality, sensitive and accurate legal assistance, including advice, case work and representation to clients with complex needs, including an experience of mental health conditions.
• Participate in community legal education, outreach and engagement activities, as needed, to improve access to justice for people experiencing mental health conditions.
• Help to establish and maintain partnerships and collaborative relationships with relevant local health and community support services.
• Help to strengthen and develop the Legal Service’s integrated practice model by engaging and collaborating with Banyule Community Health programs and other services to deliver holistic assistance to clients.

The key skills required for this role include:

• Demonstrated experience in area/s of law relevant to community legal practice, including at least one of criminal law, family violence, infringements, victims of crime, consumer law, debt or tenancy.
• Demonstrated experience in client file management work, and a proven ability to effectively follow file and risk management procedures as these relate to the Legal Service.
• A demonstrated ability to work in a culturally sensitive and empowering manner with clients and groups from diverse backgrounds and who have different abilities and needs.
• To participate in continuous quality improvement activities of the service, including planning and evaluation of projects as well as performance development.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team.

About us

West Heidelberg Community Legal is a program of Banyule Community Health. Banyule Community Health has two main sites, one in the heart of West Heidelberg and the other near the train station of Greensborough. The Quality and Community Programs Team, of which WHCL is a part, provides a range of services, including social work, Aboriginal health, prevention and health promotion projects, maternal and child health, and chronic disease-related programs as well as this work with local young people.